Introduction
INTRODUCTION
In the wake of the ongoing racial violence in the United States and around the world, I have come to ask myself some questions and reflect on my personal experience in Europe and the United States.
Having lived on the African continent for the first 17 years of my life, I did not necessarily realize that racism was still so present today and I did not necessarily think about the different forms it took.
In addition, coming from a culturally diverse family and having had the chance to attend schools where students came from all over the world, it never occurred to me not to want to be around someone because of their origins, their differences. On the contrary, I have always been interested in difference. This may sound cliché, but I believe that difference is a strength.
Purpose
Prompt
PURPOSE & PROMPT
To come back to the purpose of this chapter, it is not about educating the reader about racism, its different forms, etc. It is about exploring the power of difference.
Through this questionnaire, I wanted participants to have this moment of reflection on the question.
It is about exploring the relationship that people - who could be victims of racism because of the tone of their skin - have with their skin color. It is also an exercise of reflection on the place that these people occupy in the society in which they evolve and how they feel about it.
Once again, it was not a question of exposing what has already been said, but rather finding an outlet, and if possible, calm, inner peace, by reflecting on this subject in a more positive way.
This questionnaire is anonymous. The only points concerning the identity of the participants are their age and their origins - which to me are key points when addressing this theme.
The Questions
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What is your relationship with your skin color?
QUESTIONS
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Has your relationship to your skin color always been the same? (Whether the answer is yes or no, please explore the evolution of this relationship over time)
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Do you agree that with age you gain a better understanding of what racism is?
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Over time, do you feel more apt to be against racism or on the contrary less apt? (In both cases, please specify for what reason (s))
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Here you can express anything you feel about racism that was not necessarily covered in the previous questions. (Whatever you feel, whatever you want to share).
The Answers
What is your relationship to your skin colour ?
ANSWERS
"I am very proud to be black. I learned to accept myself very early on, whether it is my skin color or my personality, and at the same time I learned to surround myself with people who know how to value both "
"Good, I accept myself without difficulty and I am proud of my skin color!"
"First of all, I think I have a good relationship with myself. I have confidence in myself, and I feel "good about myself". From there, I can only have a positive relationship with my skin color.
However, I also want to bring a nuance. Today, the consumer society puts a lot of emphasis on "mixed" skins. With an ode to mixed race and curly hair. The media is full of girls with mixed skin. More and more icons/it-girls stick to this image. We see them in TV series, in ads etc...
It is therefore much easier for me, I think, than a girl with darker skin tone to feel comfortable with a skin that is increasingly "marketed". This is of course not in any way negative. I think it's progress and it will tend to spread to all skin tones."
"Ultra healthy. I come from a family where we all have different skin colors. So it was never difficult to accept myself and my skin color because that's what I've known since birth."
Healthy, I 'embrace' it !
"I am very aware of my skin color and love it!"
Sooooooo at ease !!!
I LOOOOOOVE IT !
